RALEIGH — Governor Roy Cooper today named new members to his senior staff after taking office January 1, 2017.

To administer the state budget Cooper has appointed Charlie Perusse as State Budget Director.

Perusse has experience administering state budgets and writing them to lead Office of State Budget and Management. He leaves his job as Chief Operating Officer for the University of North Carolina system to join Cooper’s team. Previously he has worked as State Budget Director and as a lead fiscal analyst for the NC General Assembly.

Cooper has appointed Barbara Gibson to direct the Office of State Human Resources to work on behalf of the state’s thousands of employees. Gibson is one of the longest serving state personnel directors and has led the NC Department of Justice Human Resources Department for 16 years.

Cooper has appointed William McKinney to serve as his Legal Counsel and advise on legal affairs. McKinney served as Special Counsel to Cooper in the NC Attorney General’s office, and prior to that worked in private practice in South Carolina and for the US State Department.

Serving in the Governor’s press office is Noelle Talley, who brings years of state government communications experience to the job. Talley most recently was Public Information Officer for the NC Department of Justice.

“We are putting together a deeply talented team and I’m excited that these experienced leaders with proven results will help me move our state forward,” Cooper said.

Other Cooper Administration senior staff and cabinet officers will be announced. North Carolina’s inauguration ceremonies will be January 7, 2017 in downtown Raleigh.